Things to Do in Monterey and Carmel

: The Monterey Peninsula is a beautiful getaway destination, from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to Pebble Beach golf courses and the picturesque 17-Mile Drive. Sign up for a whale watching cruise, indulge in fine wine tasting, or watch for wildlife at Point Lobos State Reserve. Spend the day shopping and dining at Monterey's Cannery Row or Fisherman's Wharf. No matter what you love, you always find fun things to do in Monterey and Carmel near our charming seaside retreat.

Explore the fascinating underwater world when you visit this incredible aquarium, one of the top Monterey CA attractions for families. Discover interactive exhibits, guided tours, and animal feedings. > View Details

A haven for artists, writers, and playwrights, Carmel-by-the-Sea is an intellectual and cultural oasis with an outdoor mystique and small-town allure. Enjoy the pristine beach and stroll through the pedestrian streets with art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants.

The cultural heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Sunset Center presents a variety of concerts, symphonies, music events, comedy acts, Broadway shows, films, dance performances and festivals. It is the Monterey Peninsula's leading arts destination.

The reserve takes its name from the offshore rocks at the Point of the Sea Wolves where the sounds of the sea lions carry inland. Enjoy sightseeing, photography, nature walks, picnics, scuba diving, and majestic natural beauty. With rare plants and unique geological formations, the reserve offers great scientific interest.

Carmel is a town of beautiful marine life, soft sand, a cool breeze, and breathtaking sunsets. Enjoy water activities and get your tan on at Carmel City, the beach town's most iconic beach, or explore a less populated seaside oasis at Carmel River State Beach, where you can bring your furry friend and look fortidepools and sea anemones.

Visit Mission San Carlos Borroméo del río Carmelo, the historical headquarters of the Alta California missions led by Saint Junípero Serra. Walk through beautiful stone hallways, visit the museum, and take a peek at the parish-the Carmel Mission is the quaintest spot in town.